Obesity and mortality in critically ill patients: another case of the simpson paradox?

The Impact of Body Mass Index on In-Hospital Mortality in Post-Cardiac-Arrest Patients-Does Sex Matter?

BACKGROUND

A number of factors influence mortality in post-cardiac-arrest (CA) patients, nutritional status being one of them. The aim of this study was to assess whether there are sex differences in the prognostic impact of BMI, as calculated on admission to an intensive care unit, on in-hospital mortality in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective analysis of data of 129 post-cardiac-arrest patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Teaching Hospital in Wrocław between 2017 and 2022.

RESULTS

Female patients were significantly older than male patients (68.62 ± 14.77 vs. 62.7 ± 13.95). The results of univariable logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was not associated with the odds of in-hospital death in either male or female patients. In an age-adjusted model, age was an independent predictor of the odds of in-hospital death only in male patients (OR = 1.034). In our final multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for the remaining variables, none of the traits analysed were a significant independent predictor of the odds of in-hospital death in female patients, whereas an initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) was an independent predictor of the odds of in-hospital death in male patients (OR = 0.247).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI on admission to ICU is not a predictor of the odds of in-hospital death in either male or female SCA survivors.

Epidemiological profile and risk factors associated with death in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in an adult intensive care unit from Brazil: a retrospective study

Introduction

Understanding the epidemiological profile and risk factors associated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is essential to manage the patients better and to improve health services. Therefore, our objective was to describe the epidemiological profile of adult patients in intensive care that required IMV in-hospital treatment. Also, to evaluate the risks associated with death and the influence of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) at admission in the clinical outcome.

Methods

We conducted an epidemiological study analyzing medical records of inpatients who received IMV from January 2016 to December 2019 prior to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19 pandemic in Brazil. We considered the following characteristics in the statistical analysis: demographic data, diagnostic hypothesis, hospitalization data, and PEEP and PaO2 during IMV. We associated the patients' features with the risk of death using a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. We adopted an alpha error of 0.05.

Results

We analyzed 1,443 medical records; out of those, 570 (39.5%) recorded the patients' deaths. The binary logistic regression was significant in predicting the patients' risk of death [X2(9) = 288.335; p < 0.001]. Among predictors, the most significant in relation to death risk were: age [elderly ≥65 years old; OR = 2.226 (95%CI = 1.728-2.867)]; male sex (OR = 0.754; 95%CI = 0.593-0.959); sepsis diagnosis (OR = 1.961; 95%CI = 1.481-2.595); need for elective surgery (OR = 0.469; 95%CI = 0.362-0.608); the presence of cerebrovascular accident (OR = 2.304; 95%CI = 1.502-3.534); time of hospital care (OR = 0.946; 95%CI = 0.935-0.956); hypoxemia at admission (OR = 1.635; 95%CI = 1.024-2.611), and PEEP >8 cmH2O at admission (OR = 2.153; 95%CI = 1.426-3.250).

Conclusion

The death rate of the studied intensive care unit was equivalent to that of other similar units. Regarding risk predictors, several demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with enhanced mortality in intensive care unit patients under mechanical ventilation, such as diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, and older age. The PEEP >8 cmH2O at admission was also associated with increased mortality since this value is a marker of initially severe hypoxia.

Observational, prospective, single-center study: Should body mass index be added to the scoring criteria of hepatic critically ill patients in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Obesity has recently become more prevalent, and thus the coexistence of liver cirrhosis with obesity has become very pervasive. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between abnormal body mass index (BMI) (overweight and obese) and clinical outcomes in critically ill cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

This is a single-center, prospective observational study of cirrhotic patients admitted to the intensive care unit for either medical or surgical indications in the period from February 2018 to December 2020. Patients were categorized based on their body mass index and the reason for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

RESULTS

The current study enrolled 517 patients; 39.3% were overweight, and 19.5% were obese (85% were class 1 and 2). Surgical subgroup analysis revealed that the hospital stay was shorter in the obese than average weight patients (p-value= 0.039), and ICU stay was shorter in overweight patients than patients with average weight (p-value= 0.022). The incidence of acute kidney injury was shorter in the obese group than in overweight and average-weight patients (p-value= 0.045). The medical subgroup analysis revealed that the need for noninvasive ventilation was lower in the obese and overweight groups than in the normal group (p-value= 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite having similar Child-Pugh (CP) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) scores on admission, obese patients had better outcomes than non-obese patients, demonstrating the obesity paradox. Further research is required on BMI as a predictive score in a patient with critical cirrhosis as an indicator of obesity.

Non-invasive ventilation versus oxygen therapy after extubation in patients with obesity in intensive care units: the multicentre randomised EXTUB-OBESE study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Patients with obesity are considered to be at high risk of acute respiratory failure (ARF) after extubation in intensive care unit (ICU). Compared with oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) may prevent ARF in high-risk patients. However, these strategies have never been compared following extubation of critically ill patients with obesity. Our hypothesis is that NIV is associated with less treatment failure compared with oxygen therapy in patients with obesity after extubation in ICU.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The NIV versus oxygen therapy after extubation in patients with obesity in ICUs protocol (EXTUB-obese) trial is an investigator-initiated, multicentre, stratified, parallel-group unblinded trial with an electronic system-based randomisation. Patients with obesity defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m² will be randomly assigned in the 'NIV-group' to receive prophylactic NIV applied immediately after extubation combined with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or standard oxygen between NIV sessions versus in the 'oxygen therapy group' to receive oxygen therapy alone (HFNO or standard oxygen,). The primary outcome is treatment failure within the 72 hours, defined as reintubation for mechanical ventilation, switch to the other study treatment, or premature study-treatment discontinuation (at the request of the patient or for medical reasons such as gastric distention). The single, prespecified, secondary outcome is the incidence of ARF until day 7. Other outcomes analysed will include tracheal intubation rate at day 7 and day 28, length of ICU and hospital stay, ICU mortality, day 28 and day 90 mortality.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study project has been approved by the appropriate ethics committee 'Comité-de-Protection-des-Personnes Ile de FranceV-19.04.05.70025 Cat2 2019-A00956-51'. Informed consent is required. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences. If use of NIV shows positive effects, teams (medical and surgical) will use NIV following extubation of critically ill patients with obesity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04014920.

Nutritional parameters and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care with COVID-19: a retrospective single-centre service evaluation

COVID-19 is an inflammatory syndrome caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms range from mild infection to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring ventilation and intensive care. At the time of data collection, UK cases were around 300 000 with a fatality rate of 13% necessitating over 10 000 critical care admissions; now there have been over 4 million cases. Nutrition is important to immune function and influences metabolic risk factors such as obesity and glycaemic control, as well as recovery from acute illnesses. Poor nutritional status is associated with worse outcomes in ARDS and viral infections, yet limited research has assessed pre-morbid nutritional status and outcomes in patients critically unwell with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES

Investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI), glycaemic control and vitamin D status on outcomes in adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients admitted to a central London ICU between March and May 2020 with confirmed COVID-19. Electronic patient records data were analysed for patient demographics; comorbidities; admission BMI; and serum vitamin D, zinc, selenium and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations. Serum vitamin D and HbA1c were measured on admission, or within 1 month of admission to ICU. Primary outcome of interest was mortality. Secondary outcomes included time intubated, ICU stay duration and ICU-related morbidity.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients; 54 (75%) men, mean age 57.1 (±9.8) years, were included. Overall, mortality was 24 (33%). No significant association with mortality was observed across BMI categories. In the survival arm admission, HbA1c (mmol/mol) was lower, 50.2 vs 60.8, but this was not statistically significant. Vitamin D status did not significantly associate with mortality (p=0.131). However, 32% of patients with low vitamin D (<25 IU/L) died, compared with 13% of patients with vitamin D levels >26 IU/L. Serum zinc and selenium, and vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured in 46% and 26% of patients, respectively.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Increased adiposity and deranged glucose homeostasis may potentially increase risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, possibly relating to impaired lung and metabolic function, increased proinflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms. Vitamin D deficiency may also associate with poorer outcomes and mortality, supporting a possible role of vitamin D in immune function specific to pulmonary inflammation and COVID-19 pathophysiology. There are plausible associations between raised BMI, glycaemic control, vitamin D status and poor prognosis, as seen in wider studies; however, in this service evaluation audit during the first wave of the pandemic in the UK, with a limited data set available for this analysis, the associations did not reach statistical significance. Further research is needed into specific nutritional markers influencing critical care admissions with COVID-19.

Association of BMI, comorbidities and all-cause mortality by using a baseline mortality risk model

Objective

The association of body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality is controversial, frequently referred to as a paradox. Whether the cause is metabolic factors or statistical biases is still controversial. We assessed the association of BMI and all-cause mortality considering a wide range of comorbidities and baseline mortality risk.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of Olmsted County residents with at least one BMI measurement between 2000–2005, clinical data in the electronic health record and minimum 8 year follow-up or death within this time. The cohort was categorized based on baseline mortality risk: Low, Medium, Medium-high, High and Very-high. All-cause mortality was assessed for BMI intervals of 5 and 0.5 Kg/m².

Results

Of 39,739 subjects (average age 52.6, range 18–89; 38.1% male) 11.86% died during 8-year follow-up. The 8-year all-cause mortality risk had a “U” shape with a flat nadir in all the risk groups. Extreme BMI showed higher risk (BMI <15 = 36.4%, 15 to <20 = 15.4% and ≥45 = 13.7%), while intermediate BMI categories showed a plateau between 10.6 and 12.5%. The increased risk attributed to baseline risk and comorbidities was more obvious than the risk based on BMI increase within the same risk groups.

Conclusions

There is a complex association between BMI and all-cause mortality when evaluated including comorbidities and baseline mortality risk. In general, comorbidities are better predictors of mortality risk except at extreme BMIs. In patients with no or few comorbidities, BMI seems to better define mortality risk. Aggressive management of comorbidities may provide better survival outcome for patients with body mass between normal and moderate obesity.

[Preoperative risk and perioperative management of obese patients]

The obese patient is at an increased risk of perioperative complications. Most importantly, these include difficult access to the airways (intubation, difficult or impossible ventilation), and post-extubation respiratory distress secondary to the development of atelectasis or obstruction of the airways, sometimes associated with the use of morphine derivatives. The association of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) with obesity is very common, and induces a high risk of peri- and postoperative complications. Preoperative OSA screening is crucial in the obese patient, as well as its specific management: use of continuous positive pre, per and postoperative pressure. For any obese patient, the implementation of protocols for mask ventilation and/or difficult intubation and the use of protective ventilation, morphine-sparing strategies and a semi-seated positioning throughout the care, is recommended, combined with close monitoring postoperatively. The dosage of anesthetic drugs should be based on the theoretical ideal weight and then titrated, rather than dosed to the total weight. Monitoring of neuromuscular blocking should be used where appropriate, as well as monitoring of the depth of anesthesia. The occurrence of intraoperative recall is indeed more frequent in the obese patient than in the non-obese patient. Appropriate prophylaxis against venous thromboembolic disease and early mobilization are recommended, as thromboembolic disease is increased in the obese patient. The use of non-invasive ventilation to prevent the occurrence of acute post-operative respiratory failure and for its treatment is particularly effective in obese patients. In case of admission to ICU, an individualized ventilatory management based on pathophysiology and careful monitoring should be initiated.

Medical Versus Surgical ICU Obese Patient Outcome: A Propensity-Matched Analysis to Resolve Clinical Trial Controversies

OBJECTIVES

To determine the short- and long-term mortality of obese ICU patients following medical as opposed to surgical admission and the relation between obesity and mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, using a propensity score-matched analysis of patients with medical or surgical admission.

SETTING

One French mixed medical-surgical ICU.

PATIENTS

Critically ill obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m) and nonobese patients admitted during a 14-year period.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Seven-hundred ninety-one obese patients and 4,644 nonobese patients were included, 338 (43%) and 2,367 (51%) medical and 453 (57%) and 2,277 (49%) surgical obese and nonobese patients, respectively. Mortality was significantly higher in medical than in surgical obese patients in ICU (25% vs 12%; p < 0.001) and up to 365 days (36% vs 18%; p < 0.001) post ICU admission. One-to-one propensity score matching generated 260 pairs with well-balanced baseline characteristics. After matching on propensity score, mortality was still significantly higher in medical patients both in the ICU (21% vs 13%; p = 0.03) and up to 365 days (30% vs 20%; p = 0.01) post ICU admission. Obesity was not significantly associated with mortality both in univariate analysis (140 obese patients [15%] in the dead group vs 651 [14%] in the alive group; p = 0.72) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.86-1.38]; p = 0.49) after adjustment for Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, age, category of admission, history of cardiac disease, and history of respiratory disease.

CONCLUSIONS

After careful matching, the data suggest that ICU mortality in obese population was higher in the medical group than in the surgical group and remains significantly higher 365 days post ICU admission.

Optimizing Care for Trauma Patients with Obesity

Obesity is a growing epidemic that has been contributing to the increasing cost of healthcare. Its prevalence is now approximately 37%. Morbid obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. An increased recognition of obesity as a chronic disease and a better understanding of its pathophysiology can allow for proper preparation and accommodative measures to improve resuscitation and subsequent care, thereby improving trauma outcomes. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the scope of the problem. This review also provides evidence-based recommendations for the optimal resuscitation sequence for obese patients.

Repeated Piperacillin-Tazobactam Plasma Concentration Measurements in Severely Obese Versus Nonobese Critically Ill Septic Patients and the Risk of Under- and Overdosing

OBJECTIVE

Obesity and critical illness modify pharmacokinetics of antibiotics, but piperacillin-tazobactam continuous IV infusion pharmacokinetics has been poorly studied in obese critically ill patients. We aimed to compare pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in severely obese and nonobese patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. We hypothesized that plasma concentration variability would expose the critically ill to both piperacillin under and overdosing.

METHODS

Prospective comparative study. Consecutive critically ill severely obese (body mass index, > 35 kg/m) and nonobese patients (body mass index, < 30 kg/m) were treated with 16 g/2 g/24 hr continuous piperacillin-tazobactam infusion. Piperacillin plasma concentration was measured every 12 hours over a 7-day period by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Unbound piperacillin plasma concentration and fractional time of plasma concentration spent over 64 mg/L (4-fold the minimal inhibitory concentration for Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were compared between the two groups. We performed 5,000 Monte Carlo simulations for various dosing regimens and minimal inhibitory concentration and calculated the probability to spend 100% of the time over 64 mg/L.

RESULTS

We enrolled 11 severely obese and 12 nonobese patients and obtained 294 blood samples. We did not observe a statistically significant difference in piperacillin plasma concentrations over time between groups. The fractional time over 64 mg/L was 64% (43-82%) and 93% (85-100%) in obese and nonobese patients, respectively, p = 0.027 with intra- and intergroup variability. Five nonobese and two obese patients experienced potentially toxic piperacillin plasma concentrations. When 64 mg/L was targeted, Monte Carlo simulations showed that 12 g/1.5 g/24 hr was inadequate in both groups and 16 g/2 g/24 hr was adequate only in nonobese patients.

CONCLUSION

Using a conventional dosing of 16 g/2 g/24 hr continuous infusion, obese patients were more likely than nonobese patients to experience piperacillin underdosing when facing high minimal inhibitory concentration pathogens. The present study suggests that piperacillin drug monitoring might be necessary in the sickest patients who are at the highest risk of unpredictable plasma concentration exposing them to overdose, toxicity, underdosing, and treatment failure.

Effect of body mass index on the outcome of surgical patients receiving extracorporeal devices (VV ECMO, pECLA) for respiratory failure

INTRODUCTION

To determine whether obese surgical patients are at a significant disadvantage in terms of outcomes after extracorporeal device (ECD) support, such as veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) or pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA), for respiratory failure, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and hospital outcomes was analyzed.

METHODS

This retrospective study included data on patients who were supported with an ECD between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. The analysis included 89 patients (74 male).

RESULTS

The median BMI was 30 kg/m2 (19-88.5). The median duration of the ECD support was 9.0 days, with a maximum of 37.1 days. The median LOS (length of stay) in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 21 days (range 0.06-197.6). The median hospital LOS was 34.9 days (range 0.1-213.8). VV ECMO was performed 72 times, and pECLA was performed 18 times. The number of patients successfully weaned off the ECD was 54 (60.6%). Survival at the discharge from the hospital was 48.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

54 (60.6%) patients were successfully weaned off the ECD; 43 (48.3%) patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. The analysis of correlations between BMI and outcomes of surgical patients treated with ECD showed no association between BMI and mortality. Complications (especially oxygenator clotting) were not more frequent in obese and extremely obese patients. We hypothesized that patients with higher or morbid BMIs would have increased mortality after ECD support. A BMI of 30.66 kg/m2 corresponded to the desired sensitivity and specificity to predict mortality. This finding applied only to the study group. Treatment with ECD in obese patients presents unique challenges, including percutaneous cannulation and increased staff requirements. However, based on these data, obesity should not be an exclusion criterion for ECD therapy.

Diaphragmatic function is enhanced in fatty and diabetic fatty rats

Background

Obesity is associated with a decrease in mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) (the "obesity paradox"). We hypothesized that obesity may paradoxically improve diaphragmatic function.

Methods

Diaphragm contractility was prospectively recorded in vitro in adult male Zucker lean (control), fatty, and diabetic fatty rats, at rest, after 12h mechanical ventilation and after fatigue. We analyzed diaphragm morphology, cytokines, and protein expression of the protein kinase signaling pathways.

Results

Diaphragm active-force (AF) was higher in fatty (96±7mN.mm^-2,P = 0.02) but not in diabetic fatty rats (90±17mN.mm^-2) when compared with controls (84±8mN.mm^-2). Recovery from fatigue was improved in fatty and diabetic fatty groups compared with controls. Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction was observed in each group, but AF remained higher in fatty (82±8mN.mm^-2,P = 0.03) compared with controls (70±8mN.mm^-2). There was neutral lipid droplet accumulation in fatty and diabetic fatty. There were shifts towards a higher cross-sectional-area (CSA) of myosin heavy chain isoforms (MyHC)-2A fibers in fatty and diabetic fatty compared with control rats (P = 0.002 and P<0.001, respectively) and a smaller CSA of MyHC-2X in fatty compared with diabetic fatty and control rats (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). The phosphorylated total-protein-kinase-B (pAKT)/AKT ratio was higher in fatty (182±58%,P = 0.03), but not in diabetic fatty when compared with controls and monocarboxylate-transporter-1 was higher in diabetic fatty (147±36%,P = 0.04), but not in fatty.

Conclusions

Diaphragmatic force is increased in Zucker obese rats before and after mechanical ventilation, and is associated with activation of AKT pathway signaling and complex changes in morphology.

Mechanical ventilation in obese ICU patients: from intubation to extubation

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2017. Other selected articles can be found online at http://ccforum.com/series/annualupdate2017. Further information about the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine is available from http://www.springer.com/series/8901.

Relationship between Obesity and Massive Transfusion Needs in Trauma Patients, and Validation of TASH Score in Obese Population: A Retrospective Study on 910 Trauma Patients

Background

Prediction of massive transfusion (MT) is challenging in management of trauma patients. However, MT and its prediction were poorly studied in obese patients. The main objective was to assess the relationship between obesity and MT needs in trauma patients. The secondary objectives were to validate the Trauma Associated Severe Hemorrhage (TASH) score in predicting MT in obese patients and to use a grey zone approach to optimize its ability to predict MT.

Methods and Findings

An observational retrospective study was conducted in a Level I Regional Trauma Center Trauma in obese and non-obese patients. MT was defined as ≥10U of packed red blood cells in the first 24h and obesity as a BMI≥30kg/m². Between January 2008 and December 2012, 119 obese and 791 non-obese trauma patients were included. The rate of MT was 10% (94/910) in the whole population. The MT rate tended to be higher in obese patients than in non-obese patients: 15% (18/119, 95%CI 9‒23%) versus 10% (76/791, 95%CI 8‒12%), OR, 1.68 [95%CI 0.97‒2.92], p = 0.07. After adjusting for Injury Severity Score (ISS), obesity was significantly associated with MT rate (OR, 1.79[95%CI 1.00‒3.21], p = 0.049). The TASH score was higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group: 7(4–11) versus 5(2–10)(p<0.001). The area under the ROC curves of the TASH score in predicting MT was very high and comparable between the obese and non-obese groups: 0.93 (95%CI, 0.89‒0.98) and 0.94 (95%CI, 0.92‒0.96), respectively (p = 0.80). The grey zone ranged respectively from 10 to 13 and from 9 to 12 in obese and non obese patients, and allowed separating patients at low, intermediate or high risk of MT using the TASH score.

Conclusions

Obesity was associated with a higher rate of MT in trauma patients. The predictive performance of the TASH score and the grey zones were robust and comparable between obese and non-obese patients.

The association between obesity and outcomes in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

Obesity rates are increasing worldwide, particularly in North America. The impact of obesity on the outcome of critically ill patients is unclear.

METHODS

A prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary critical care unit in Canada between January 10, 2008 and March 31, 2009 was conducted. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, admission <24 h, planned cardiac surgery, pregnancy, significant ascites, unclosed surgical abdomen and brain death on admission. Height, weight and abdominal circumference were measured at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Coprimary end points were ICU mortality and a composite of ICU mortality, reintubation, ventilator-associated pneumonia, line sepsis and ICU readmission. Subjects were stratified as obese or nonobese, using two separate metrics: body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2) and a novel measurement of 75th percentile for waist-to-height ratio (WHR).

RESULTS

Among 449 subjects with a BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m(2), both BMI and WHR were available for comparative analysis in 348 (77.5%). Neither measure of obesity was associated with the primary end points. BMI ≥ 3 0 kg/m(2) was associated with a lower odds of six-month mortality than the BMI <30 kg/m(2) group (adjusted OR 0.59 [95% CI 0.36 to 0.97]; P=0.04) but longer intubation times (adjusted RR 1.56 [95% CI 1.17 to 2.07]; P=0.003) and longer ICU length of stay (adjusted RR 1.67 [95% CI 1.21 to 2.31]; P=0.002). Conversely, measurement of 75th percentile for WHR was associated only with decreased ICU readmission (OR 0.23 [95% CI 0.07 to 0.79]; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity was not necessarily associated with worse outcomes in critically ill patients.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in obese surgical patients with hypercapnic lung failure

BACKGROUND

In patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m(2) , or in extreme cases weighting > 250 kg, we are faced with special challenges in therapy and logistics. The aim was to analyze the feasibility of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in these patients.

METHODS

We report 12 adult patients [10 male, 2 female; mean age 56.7 (34-74) years; mean BMI 47.9 (35-88.6) kg/m(2) ] with acute lung failure treated with veno-venous ECMO from 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2013. All patients were cannulated percutaneously into the right internal jugular vein and one of the femoral veins at the bedside.

RESULTS

The mean time to ECMO after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was 2 days (0-10), and the mean ECMO run time was 9 days (4 h-20 days). Lung failure occurred in the contexts of wound infection (two patients), anaphylactic shock (one patient), major trauma (one patients) and pneumonia after surgery (four patients), and respiratory failure in abdominal sepsis (four patients). The mean time in the ICU was 31 days (0-89), and the mean time at the hospital was 38 days (0-101). Three patients died on the system because of multiorgan failure; nine patients were weaned from ECMO (75%); and six were patients discharged from the ICU and from the hospital (survival rate 50%).

CONCLUSIONS

ECMO in obese patients is feasible and life saving. Therefore, a percutaneous cannulation remains feasible. The goals of the ECMO therapy include early spontaneous breathing, tracheotomy, rapid reduction of sedation and adequate analgesia. Rehabilitation includes nutritional therapy, as well as psychiatric therapy and bariatric surgery, as perspectives for the future.